Financial Fitness

Life Insurance 101 Life insurance is an important component of a healthy financial life. Lacking sufficient coverage can be disastrous for those who depend on you financially. This article is meant to introduce you to the basic concepts and types of life insurance so that you can make a more informed decision before purchasing a policy. [...]

There’s a lot to consider as you prepare for retirement, so it’s wise to begin planning well ahead of time. The checklists below are designed to help you stay on track for the retirement you envision. Five years to retirement: Set your target date. Envision your retirement. Calculate your number. Position yourself for a better [...]

Unemployment is an event that most of us encounter – whether voluntarily or not – at one point during our working years. Sometimes, it’s neither planned nor expected, and comes as both an emotional and financial shock. Ideally, you have three to six months of living expenses tucked away for the unexpected as an emergency reserve. [...]

With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day in the United States, the need to plan for the long-term needs of the aging population has never been greater. Increasingly, middle-aged adults find themselves caring for elderly parents as well as children—and sometimes grandchildren—of their own. Without the proper strategy, this caretaking burden can lead to undue [...]

You've probably heard how important it is to establish and maintain an emergency fund. Unfortunately, most people don't fully realize this until a money emergency is upon them. Are you financially prepared for a leaky roof? How about a broken-down car? If you lost your job, how long would you be able to support yourself [...]

If you’re not thinking about your taxes yet, you should be—identity thieves certainly are. During tax season, there’s a significant increase in the sharing of sensitive information, both online and via postal mail. Not surprisingly, it’s also when many crooks and scammers come out of the woodwork. For them, it’s prime time to steal your personal [...]

Financial New Year’s Resolutions: Using Tech to Stay on Track The New Year is symbolic in many respects. It gives you a chance to start fresh and set some goals that can improve your life in ways large and small. But if you’re like many people, familiar resolutions like “lose weight" or “go to the gym" [...]

Year-End Financial Planning Checklist As 2016 draws to a close, it's time to begin organizing your finances for the New Year. To help you get started, we've put together a list of key planning topics to consider. Savings and investments Revisit your retirement contributions. Review how much you're contributing to your workplace retirement account. If you're [...]

Deleting Sensitive Information? Don’t Rely on Your Recycle Bin Computer forensic experts are a lot like paleontologists—the scientists who study the life of past geological periods. Paleontologists have never unearthed a full dinosaur skeleton. But, by examining just a small sample of scattered bones, they’ve been able to figure out the skeletal structure of hundreds of [...]

This communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in the states of AK, CA, CO, GA, HI, IL, KY, MN, NH, NM, VA, WI. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside these states due to various state regulations and registration requirements regarding investment products and services. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member www.FINRA.org, www.SIPC.org, a Registered Investment Adviser.

Investments are not insured by the FDIC and are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any depository institution. Funds are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal investment.